Licheng District, People's Republic of China
Kaiyuan Temple (Quanzhou)
Licheng District, People's Republic of China
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
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Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou's Licheng District is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian province, spanning 78,000 square metres. Built in the Chinese architectural style characteristic of Buddhist Dense-Eaves design, the temple's Daxiongbao Hall houses the Five Tathāgathas central to Chinese Esoteric Buddhism. Most celebrated are its twin stone pagodas, Zhenguo and Renshou—the largest stone pagodas in the world—completed during the Song dynasty. The temple's significance extends beyond Buddhist practice: it contains rare Hindu monuments left by Southern Indian traders, testament to Quanzhou's medieval role as a global maritime hub. In 2021, Kaiyuan Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its importance to medieval trade networks and the cross-cultural exchange of ideas and beliefs that passed through this port city.
Movement
- Type
- Buddhist temple, cultural heritage of China
- Heritage
- National Key Buddhist Temples in Han Chinese Area, Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level
- Place
- Licheng District, People's Republic of China
This building on
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Location